Editorial
Guyana Chronicle
April 21, 2001

IN RECENT weeks, Guyanese have been faced with many difficulties, not at the hands of the government, but by elements in society who believe in the law of the jungle and unleash savagery against innocent people and property.

Since the inferno in Georgetown two few weeks ago following violence from street demonstrations organised by the People's National Congress/Reform (PNC/R), scenes of ugly incidents have flared again on the East Coast Demerara.

These incidents which started with fiery road blocks have now taken on frightening proportions.

The latest disgusting attack came a few days ago when Guyanese returning home from the United States of America were beaten and robbed after vehicles in which they were travelling on the East Coast on their way home were stopped and attacked.

In the attack, a child was chopped and is now receiving medical attention. This is almost genocide, and it is difficult for the opposition PNC/R to distance itself from all these atrocities taking place on the East Coast Demerara, having earlier baptised both the perpetrators and their actions.

Large sums of money and several suitcases have also been stolen from travellers en route to their destinations.

It is worthwhile noting here that it is organised violence at the top which creates individual violence at the bottom.

The Embassy of the United States of America should take note of these attacks on both American citizens and Guyanese who have become American citizens, especially when a child is slashed by these elements. These are atrocities committed against American citizens.

Embassy officials should also enforce the law for entry into the United States when any of the identifiable perpetrators of this kind of crime apply for entry visa to the U.S.

The perpetrators must be made to understand that anyone, whether from Timbuktu or the Abyssnia Plateau, must be allowed to move through Guyana freely and unmolested as long as they have been given Immigration blessings.

These acts of malice and lawlessness must not be allowed to go unpunished.

The offenders must be brought to face the full force of the law. Only when the rule of law is respected, could we march forward as a nation with dignity.

We also note the pain caused to people with the malicious damage to pipelines, telephone cables and public buildings, roads and bridges on the East Coast.

Are people so daft to comprehend that when they damage these facilities they hurt mainly themselves?

The people in Georgetown or Parika do not benefit directly from facilities on the East Coast, nor would these damaged facilities directly affect people in Georgetown or Parika.

Damage to public property is a serious crime in Guyana and it is the duty of every Guyanese to point out wrongdoers to the authorities when they stoop so low as to disrupt public property.

It is for our own good that we help to safeguard these very important facilities for which we fought relentlessly.